Every few days we go down to Honolii park to cast drift nets.  This means a lot of sitting and waiting.  I normally take photos and collect beach glass.  There's a lot here and it's something to do. 
So here's a few photos of that and more are to come this week... 

handsome husband...

beach glass...

I don't know who they are nor did they know I took this picture.

but I think they're in their happy place...

I just really liked the way all these little rocks just fell into that space...

see, some science happens here...

sing the title like the ice cube song. I'm listening to it now. I would have posted it but it's a little dirty and I try to keep this blog somewhat professional. (somewhat)

Today was indeed a good day. Ernie and Dan dropped me off in town this morning and I spent my day wandering.  I bought 2 fantastic dresses for $8 each at Sun your Buns consignment boutique and spoke with the delightful shop keeper for a while.  She asked me if I was "from down south somewhere"- she could tell by my accent.  It totally warmed my heart.  Then I went to the french crepe place and ate a most delicious veggie crepe.  Came home and started some laundry and mixed myself a cocktail. Our landlord dropped off a grill today so I think a grilled fish is in order for dinner tonight.

just can't complain...

Happy weekend ya'll!

our clean sheets floating in the breeze... just discovered we had clothing lines here this week. 

Hawaiian heat!!!!
Pineapple juice, ginger juice with a little cayenne.  Delicious but is a little spicy so I think I'll just have the one...

(for now)

Here's some photos I took on a walk downtown I made on tuesday.  We live 3 miles from the downtown area so close enough to walk but not enough to want to do it everyday.

I feel like I've been waisting a lot of time just having cats and dogs...
this goat was super interested in me.  In my mind he wanted me to pet him- maybe even give him a hug.  In reality he was wondering if I had any food, and he was thinking about how good my camera would taste.
This little guy definitely did soften my deep dislike of goats (on account of them having crazy eyes- and I feel like I am validated in my dislike because my grandma raised goats and they really are a creepy animal- not smart like a pig...)

and this whole time I've felt the exact same way about you...

for my momma! (who loves her plants) - these guys were growing right up by the sidewalk

it probably would have been better had I never been introduced to this culinary delight!

the side walks here are black because they are made of lava rock.  (I think- they look lava rocky)

This post is really for my friend Suzy- who is gracious enough to be holding down the fort in Raleigh while we're on this little life adventure-  Or, "keeping my life warm" as she puts it. 

As far as food is concerned Hawaii is much like the mainland but with a twist.  Like what I know but with an asian kick.   Suzy and I have been talking back and forth about our love of all things ginger and where that shows up in Hawaii and not on the mainland.  The thing that blew my mind the most was ginger Altoids!! What?! I know, right. Crazy!!!  I promptly mailed Suzy two tins of that magnificent treat.  So- here's what I bought yesterday, I am sure they're all over NC but I've just never noticed...

TA DA!!!! Newman's Own Ginger O's!!!!!!!

soooooo good.... (but not as good as the mint o's. shhhh!!)

I know, right?  RIDICULOUS! Could easily be the prettiest thing I have ever seen. 

The hike down however was the hardest hike I've ever done in my life and I will never ever do it again (and I am normally a good sport about things but I kind of thought I might die) Luckily you can take a 4wheel drive vehicle down- that will be my transportation of choice next time around. 

hey ladies look...

this is Dan! Isn't he handsome? I can vouch for the fact that he's nice, funny, easy to get on with and picks up after himself. 

Just sayin...

oh, hey. what's up wild horse just hanging out in the valley?

black sand beach.  fills my heart with delight.

he's pointing up because we get to climb that. 

It's much worse than it looks.  I promise.  One mile and all the way up. I had to sit down twice and I almost cried once.

a few days ago we went to kole kole beach park.  It's where the stream meets the ocean and one of ernie's sample sights.  It's really a lovely place.  While the guys were snorkeling through the stream I took some photos.  (this is what I do while they catch fish)  So I watched the surfers for a while- it's where the locals come and def not for the novice surfer as the coastline is very rocky. 

W're actually going back here at dusk to cast drift nets.  Right now I am roasting asparagus just like my mom does- with a bit of garlic, lemon juice and lemon zest.  I'm going to toss it into a pasta for a little dinner picnic on the beach.

Please don't hate me.

a whole tree root drift wood style.

little sea snail sitting in a hole in a rock pretty far from the sea- gotta do what you gotta do.

I can't wait to swim here when the weather warms up about 5 degrees.

I've never ever been a napper. I'd go as far as saying I was a nap hater.  I guess my brain has just never been able to wind down enough to take a nap and I've always hated getting over the nap "hangover" that I inevitably have. 

There's something about this place though. Thus far I have taken several naps.  Like a few a week even.  I don't know if it's the laid back vibe of Hawaii, the lack of anywhere I have to be or that no one needs anything from me or (and I think this is the winning choice) is the view from our bedroom.  It's just easy to want to be in this space. I already miss it even though I have several more months here. 

The other night- I walked in to get ready to go out to dinner.  It was  dusk and the room looked so lovely that I had to take a picture.  I had been reading here earlier that afternoon (which often lends itself to said nap)

(that book on the bed is about how to expose photographs properly.  Had I paid better attention this would be a far better exposed photograph.  Sorry- C'est la vie)

here we are walking through the lava tubes at volcanoes national park.  A lava tube is "the natural conduit through which lava travels beneath the surface of a lava flow, expelled by a volcano during an eruption." (via wikipidea) It's a big dark tunnel under the ground and fairly impressive i'd say.

this is a fern growing by it's only available light source.  a light fixture.  I love it.

We decided to take a fun day on Sunday while Ernie's boss and his wife were still in town.  We headed to Volcanoes national park to see some hot lava!! (there was no hot lava- much to my disappointment.)  We did see older crater formation that is still steaming.  Pretty neat experience anyway.  I hear the way to see it is to helicopter fly over.  That might be out of our price range for right now...

all that steam rising out of the earth makes for lots of rainbows!!!

remnants from a 1976 lava flow

a few days ago we headed to the western side of the island to check some watersheds (hit the beach). It's the dry side of the island and boy they weren't kidding when they call it that.  It's like a barren desert in places.  It's just a strange switch since we're here on the wet side and it feels like a jungle.

mother nature has a sense of humor and/or we have the mentality of 12 year old boys. 

We named it mt. ta-ta.

can you tell I spent the whole day by myself?

I'm trying to show you how tan I am. Cause I'm like mega tan.

Is this little guy?

Now as much as I love good food I am far from a foodie and by no means knowledgeable about what the rest of the culinary world has to offer. So I was kind of excited to try some new things here in Hawaii. Not that Hawaii is really that far off from the mainland as far as food is concerned (Hawaiians like a cheeseburger like the best of them) but the different climate lends itself to a new wealth of produce. So here is maybe the most bad-ass looking fruit I have ever seen. I mean, really... have you ever seen a fruit so amazing, so alien like? This is a rambutan. Verdict?- tastes kind of like a grape. Delicious but takes a lot of work to get through the tough shell and around the woody seed. Still a really really cool looking thing and very cheap at the farmers market.

If you look closely you'll see these little magenta things clinging to the rocks.  Little anemone of sorts just left high and dry and waiting for the tide to come in...

If I were clever I'd have something interesting to say about how it speaks of

patience

of

endurance

of

just sheer willingness to ride it out...

someone clever think of something for me.

Watching the humpbacks. Don't be fooled, these nalgene bottles are not full of water- for to nourish the body, but margaritas for to nourish the spirit. Nothing like a cocktail seaside...

ok... I just can't get enough of doing things like this and I should stop. It's kind of dumb and I know that- it just amuses me to death.

We've seen the humpbacks three consecutive days in a row. It's kind of breathtaking. We are now fully obsessed with them.

Before the crew gets here Ernie has been checking out watersheds to see if they're accessible. I've been tagging along because it really allows me to get to see some things that a regular tourist wouldn't. So here are the shots from today. The most amazing thing of the day is that while we we're on our way home for lunch I spotted a pod of humpback whales. We pulled over and I was so in awe I didn't even grab my camera. We followed them back down the coastline but when we found them again they had gone much further out. Still the MOST.AMAZING.THING.EVER!

someone gets to live on this hill.  Several people in fact.  I hope they wake up every day and feel the awe I felt being here.

humpback whale pod!

This is coconut island in Hilo.  It's a park where a lot of families get together for picnics and what not.  You'll notice it's only children swimming in this tide pool.  It's way too cold for grown ups to want to get in.  I'm looking forward to going to the dry side of the island where things are a little warmer...

I've been here in hawaii for 3 whole days and I have not even posted the first photo on my blog. (what?!?, I know, I know) It's just that the day before I left my beloved camera had a little internal accident and I think I was so heartbroken that I pssshht taking any photos. So I'm working with my backup. (because of course I have backup!) to give you a few glimpses of the happenings here in Hilo Hawaii. Lord knows there are some things worth taking photos of here. Good gracious! I know why it's called a paradise. 

and never fear- my dear momma sent my camera back to be repaired and I should have it within the month. Thanks momma! 

and ps- big ole' dang shout out to canon for fixing my camera for free even though I bought it used. I didn't know any company stood behind their products like that these days. So there- that's my personal endorsement for canon products. Get you some...

our lil home in hilo...